Chelsea set to atone for Bolton loss, says Bridge

Wayne Bridge has warned Aston Villa to expect a backlash from Chelsea in the quarter-final of the Carling Cup tonight as the London club look to return to winning ways after falling to their third defeat of the season against Bolton Wanderers last weekend.

Chelsea travel to Villa Park after losing 2-1 last Saturday, when a last-minute own goal by John Terry enabled Arsenal to return to the top of the table. Bridge, however, insists Chelsea have already proved their ability to respond quickly from setbacks this season.

When Chelsea lost 2-0 to Besiktas in the Champions' League group stage at the start of October, they responded with a 2-1 win at Middlesbrough. And when they were defeated 2-1 at Highbury later that month, they beat Lazio 2-1 at home just a few days later. Indeed, Chelsea have not even drawn back-to-back games so far this season.

Bridge admitted, however, that frustration levels were high after their latest setback.

"We had lots of possession [against Bolton] and I felt that once we got the first goal, there would be three or four more to come," he said. "But they scored the equaliser from a free-kick and it's disappointing to concede goals like that. We didn't create many chances in the second half and got beaten by a team we should have beaten. Everyone was really disappointed at the defeat. We didn't play that badly. We created enough chances to win the game, but we didn't put them away and that happens sometimes."

Bridge added: "Everyone is going to think positive and we're going to bounce back and fight to stay at the top of the League. It's how you react to results like this that matters. We've had bad results before and battled back so the lads aren't going to just sit down and sulk about it. We'll get out there and fight."

Chelsea have already beaten Villa once this season in the Premiership, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scoring the only goal of the game at Stamford Bridge at the end of September. The Chelsea coach, Claudio Ranieri, however, will presumably make several changes to his side at Villa Park, especially because some players were looking tired at the end of the Bolton defeat.

Emmanuel Petit, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Juan Sebastian Veron are out because of long-term injuries and Glen Johnson is also doubtful after twisting his ankle against Bolton. Johnson trained on Monday, but Ranieri may decide to call upon Mario Melchiot in his place. Fringe squad members such as Robert Huth, Neil Sullivan and Mario Stanic will all be hoping to start.

The Chelsea manager, however, is intent on avoiding consecutive defeats that could affect confidence in his squad. "I change four or five players in every competition but there are one or two I must play right now in midfield because I don't have Petit or Veron," Ranieri said.

The Aston Villa manager, David O'Leary, has admitted that success in the Carling Cup could have an impact on his side's chances of achieving Premiership survival.

O'Leary would dearly love to lift a trophy in his first season in charge at Villa Park and he will field his strongest available side. But staying in the top flight is his priority and, with a small squad at his disposal, O'Leary knows that a series of Cup matches could affect his side's ability to achieve that goal.

O'Leary is already unhappy at Villa having to face Manchester United in the FA Cup and Portsmouth in the Premiership in the space of 48 hours in early January after the hectic Christmas programme. Success against Chelsea and earning a two legged semi-final spot would then set up a possible five matches in 14 days later that month.

"I look at the fixtures and I want to win it," O'Leary said. "But with the semi-finals tucked in there, are you harming yourself more?

"The League is the be-all and the end-all. If you ask anyone do you want to win the competition and go down or not win anything and stay up, what do you think they will say?"

The Aston Villa central defender Ronny Johnsen will return after a three-match absence with a pelvic problem. The Norway international will replace Dion Dublin, who suffered a knee injury during Sunday's 3-2 win over Wolves.

The goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is also fit after being substituted at the weekend following a kick in the chest from Paul Ince. The midfielder Lee Hendrie is back in contention after serving a one-match ban.